Senior Pensions Administrator (Defined Benefit) – Lead & Mentor

At Spence & Partners (part of 3173 Group), we’re on a mission to simplify and enhance the pensions industry. We believe in delivering smarter, more effective solutions that help pension schemes thrive. Since our founding in 2000, we’ve earned a reputation for practical and innovative advice, with a commitment to meeting the evolving needs of Defined Benefit and Defined Contribution schemes.

3173 is a privately owned UK firm of pensions experts with clients throughout the UK, serviced from offices in London, Belfast, Glasgow, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol and Leeds.

The 3173 Group of companies includes Dalriada Trustees Limited (Dalriada) one of the UK’s largest professional pension scheme trustee companies. Spence & Partners provides full pension actuarial, consulting, investment consulting and administration services that provide simply smarter solutions for trustees, employers and members and Mantle, which reimagines the traditional models of defined benefit pensions administration and actuarial valuation software.

The 3173 Culture

Our primary aim is to provide interesting, worthwhile and healthy careers for all our people; we believe that this emphasis sets us apart from our competitors.

We are defined by our ethos and by our goal:

Our ethos is an individual and collective commitment achieved through carefully balancing responsibility with freedom and flexibility, all of which is underpinned by a willingness to work interdependently. When we get this balance right, it is how we do our best work.

At Spence, we’re continuing to grow, and you’ll play an important role in that journey. As well as developing your own expertise and career, you’ll help us build long-term client relationships, contribute to winning new business, and shape the future of our pensions services. All within a collaborative team where your knowledge is valued and your impact is recognised.

Are you an experienced pensions professional looking for your next challenge? We’re looking for a Senior Pensions Administrator to take a key role in delivering exceptional service on behalf of trustees and scheme members. This is a role where your technical expertise, attention to detail, and ability to support others will really shine.

As part of our team, you’ll be trusted to manage and oversee the day-to-day running of Defined Benefit (DB) schemes, ensuring that members receive accurate and timely benefits, and trustees can rely on robust and compliant administration. You’ll also play a vital role in supporting colleagues — reviewing their work, sharing your knowledge, and helping to develop the next generation of pensions administrators.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage and oversee the day-to-day running of Defined Benefit schemes.
• Act as a point of contact for scheme members, trustees, and advisers.
• Perform and check more complex benefit calculations (e.g. ill-health, divorce, or non-standard cases).
• Review and authorise the work of junior colleagues, providing mentoring and guidance.
• Ensure tasks are completed accurately, on time, and within service standards.
• Contribute to scheme exercises such as wind-ups, GMP reconciliations, and member communications.
• Work proactively and independently, resolving queries and identifying improvements.
• Support business development by contributing technical input for proposals or attending client pitches alongside senior colleagues.

Key Criteria (Essential)

• At least 5 years’ experience in DB pension administration.
• Broad technical knowledge of UK pensions legislation, regulations, and codes of practice.
• Strong understanding of scheme rules and benefit calculations, including non-standard/complex cases.
• Ability to check and review the work of junior colleagues.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, able to liaise confidently with members, trustees, and third parties.
• Experience managing day-to-day scheme tasks and ensuring service levels are met.
• Ability to work proactively, independently, and in a fast-moving environment.

Desirable Criteria

• · Experience attending trustee or client meetings.
• · Ability to mentor and support less experienced colleagues.
• · Strong organisational skills, able to coordinate multiple tasks effectively
• · Involvement in supporting new business proposals or pitches.

Circumstances

Working hours: Monday to Friday, 37.5 hours per week with additional hours as and when required.

Location: UK-wide with opportunity available in Belfast, Manchester or Glasgow

All roles are subject to a six-month probationary period and all prospective employees are required to complete an Access NI check.

As part of the pre-hire process the successful candidate will be subject to reference checking security vetting.

3173 is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Applying with a disability or long-term health condition?

As part of our belief that we benefit from the differences among us we are committed to increasing the representation of disabled colleagues and want to remove any barriers or challenges that get in the way of candidates with a disability or long-term health condition from applying to work with us. As part of this commitment we guarantee to automatically interview anyone with a disability who meets the minimum criteria.

If there is support or an adjustment that we can provide to enable you to be at your best during the recruitment and selection process, we encourage you to advise us in good time so that we may make suitable arrangements. We understand that being open with us may feel uncomfortable so please only share with us the information that you are comfortable to share, and rest assured that we will use this only to provide you with the right support. Any information you give us will be treated completely confidentially. To discuss this further please call and ask to speak to a member of the People & Culture team.